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Divya Kumar - Higher Education and Nonprofits Reporter
Divya Kumar

Higher Education and Nonprofits Reporter

I cover nonprofits and higher education and want to hear the stories, big and small, that make up these worlds. I got my start in journalism at King High School's student newspaper and the University of South Florida's The Oracle. I joined the Times in 2016 after earning a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Is there something about a nonprofit, college, university or higher education related issue you think people should know about? I'd love to hear from you.

  1. Corcoran, 2 others make their case to be New College’s next president
    Sept. 21• The Education Gradebook
    Richard Corcoran, left, speaks with David Rancourt, the dean of students at New College of Florida, on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 in Sarasota. The two were at a forum for faculty as part of the process to select the next president at New College, where Corcoran has served as interim president for six months. Corcoran is one of three candidates for the permanent job.
  2. On campus with UF President Ben Sasse as he seeks a ‘north star’ beyond rankings
    Sept. 21• The Education Gradebook
    Erica McCray, left, an associate dean in the College of Education, meets University of Florida President Ben Sasse moments before Sasse shared his strategic vision for UF during a meeting with faculty on Aug. 25 in Gainesville.
  3. Florida university staff could be fired under proposed restroom policy
    Sept. 20• The Education Gradebook
    The Florida Board of Governors has proposed a policy to go with Florida's new law regulating who can use what restrooms at the state's public universities. Violators could face discipline, including dismissal.
  5. Pasco-Hernando State College announces new president
    Sept. 19• The Education Gradebook
    Jesse Pisors was announced as the fifth president of Pasco-Hernando State College on Sept. 19, 2023.
  6. UF falls to No. 6 in U.S. News rankings as other Florida schools dip too
    Sept. 18• The Education Gradebook
    Gov. Ron DeSantis displays a University of Florida baseball jersey given to him on Sept. 13, 2021, when it was announced that the school achieved a No. 5 spot in annual rankings by U.S. News & World Report. The gift was presented by UF board of trustees chairperson Mori Hosseini, left. In the 2024 rankings announced today, UF fell to No. 6 among public universities.
  7. New laws in Florida and elsewhere are pushing faculty to leave, survey says
    Sept. 7• The Education Gradebook
    Gov. Ron DeSantis talks during a news conference on Monday, May 15, 2023, at New College of Florida before signing a bill that banned state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at state universities. According to a new survey, the legislation is one of the reasons many faculty are planning to leave the state in the next year.
  8. UF ranked No. 1 among US public universities by Wall Street Journal
    Sept. 6• The Education Gradebook
    Century Tower is a familiar landmark at the University of Florida, which was ranked No. 1 in the 2024 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse Best U.S. Colleges rankings.
  9. Which Tampa Bay schools reopen tomorrow after Idalia? Here’s what we know.
    Aug. 30• Hurricane
    Tampa Bay area schools, universities and colleges were deciding when to reopen in the wake of Hurricane Idalia on Wednesday.
  10. Tampa Bay shelters open for Hurricane Idalia, but early arrivals are few
    Aug. 29• Hurricane
    Patricia Cooper of Hudson makes her way into the gymnasium at Sunlake High School on Tuesday. The shelter can handle approximately 2,600 evacuees if needed.
  11. These Tampa Bay area schools, colleges are closing due to Idalia
    Aug. 28• Hurricane
    Tropical Storm Idalia has Tampa Bay area schools on alert.
  12. At New College orientation, students express hope and hesitation
    Aug. 20• The Education Gradebook
    Incoming students and their families navigate campus during New College of Florida's move-in and orientation on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023 in Sarasota.
  13. Florida’s new higher education law faces legal challenges
    Aug. 15• The Education Gradebook
    The New College of Florida board of trustees meets on Thursday in Sarasota. The board is among the defendants being sued over the state's new higher education law.
  14. St. Petersburg College launches mental health courses for law enforcement
    Aug. 14• The Education Gradebook
    Local law enforcement officers attend the inaugural class of the mental health certification program at St. Petersburg College on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023 in St. Petersburg.
  15. Tampa Bay high schools will teach artificial intelligence courses from UF
    Aug. 14• The Education Gradebook
    In this aerial view over Gainesville, Century Tower rises from the center of the University of Florida campus, where faculty members have developed a curriculum on artificial intelligence now used by several school districts.
  16. New College of Florida trustees move to end gender studies major
    Aug. 10• The Education Gradebook
    Amy Reid, the faculty representative on the New College of Florida board of trustees, listens during the board's meeting on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, in Sarasota. Reid also heads the school's gender studies program.
  17. No one is immune from attack, professors are warned in Tampa
    Aug. 4• The Education Gradebook
    Kevin Knudson, who is the chair of the University of Florida’s department of mathematics, left, Patricia Okker, who is the past president of New College of Florida, center, and Irene Mulvey, who is president of the American Association of University Professors, right, participate in a panel discussion during the Mathematical Association of America’s MathFest 2023 at the Tampa Convention Center in downtown on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.
  18. New College names 3 finalists for president, including Richard Corcoran
    Aug. 1• The Education Gradebook
    Richard Corcoran, interim president at New College of Florida, is among those named as finalists for New College president.
  19. Inside USF’s $56M Judy Genshaft Honors College: symbolism, cool design
    July 18• The Education Gradebook
    The Judy Genshaft Honors College at the University of South Florida in Tampa is expected to open to students later this month.
  20. Are Florida laws chasing university faculty away? Some see a ‘brain drain.’
    July 6• The Education Gradebook
    While clear evidence of a "brain drain" is hard to come by, many in Florida's academic community contend the state's new laws are pushing talented faculty to other states.
  21. DeSantis reshaped Florida higher education over the last year. Here’s how.
    July 5• The Education Gradebook
    Gov. Ron DeSantis tosses a signature pen into the audience while signing legislation on May 15 that cut state funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Florida's public universities. The ceremony took place at New College of Florida in Sarasota. At right is former education commissioner Richard Corcoran, now the interim president of New College.
  22. DeSantis sues Biden administration over college accreditations
    June 22• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, N.C., Friday, June 9, 2023.
  23. Florida advances new entrance exam for public universities
    June 21• The Education Gradebook
    Students walk the Tampa campus at the University of South Florida, one of 12 state universities that will likely be accepting a new entrance exam, the Classic Learning Test, for admissions decisions. The state Board of Governors will take a final vote later this summer on whether to add the test as an option.
  24. UF taps new leader for Hamilton Center
    June 12• The Education Gradebook
    Students walk through the University of Florida campus on the last day of regular classes for the semester before finals testing week, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla.